Poetries have survived the test of time and still stand strong as a representative of the culture and values of both individuals and societies. Once used as a form of entertainment, poetries is now a wonderful activity for self-reflection and creative expression. It is a powerful tool to inspire others, communicate one’s feelings, and ignite a passion for creative writing.
However, the ability to craft a poem requires a deep understanding of one’s emotions and a strong command over one’s words, and this is not always easy to master. However, with consistency and regular practice, even challenging writing styles such as poetry can be mastered.
And what’s better than some wonderful poetry prompts to enhance poetry writing skills and cultivate the skills required to ace this beautiful activity? In this post, we have compiled some unique poetry writing prompts that are beneficial for kids both from an academic and personal point of view.
Basics of poetry writing for beginners
Before we proceed toward the prompts, a basic understanding of the basics is necessary to understand the intricacies of poetry writing. Poetry writing is a unique form of writing that requires a different approach than the rest of the writing forms. It may be challenging a little but with practice, poetry writing is easy to master. Some basics to remember while writing the poetry include-
1. Understand the purpose of the poetry
The easiest way to begin writing a poem is by understanding the purpose of the poem. Think of a theme and what message you want to convey using a poem. Additionally, identify what major emotions your poetry would deal with and what it will be based on, such as real-life incidents, nature, life, etc. It will help you gather your thoughts on a specific topic and focus solely on it.
2. Choose a poetry form
Poetry forms are different types of poems that make poetry more attractive and inspiring. Different poetry forms include blank verses, sonnets, elegies, odes, ballads, acrostatic, haiku, limericks, prose poetry, etc. These are some of the most used forms of poetry that you can use in your poems. Otherwise, as a beginner, you can simply use free verses that have no specific writing pattern and provide a free-style type of writing.
3. Choose a writing style
Poetries serve different purposes and follow different writing styles to serve those purposes. For instance, we have three different styles of writing poems, including lyrical poetry, narrative poetry, and descriptive poetry. Lyrical poems are song-like poems that are full of emotions and thoughts, usually of a poet who tries to share personal events or viewpoints using a poem.
These are often written from a first-person perspective. Next, we have narrative poems that have story-like qualities with a proper plot, conflicts, actions, resolution of conflicts, ending, etc. Lastly, we have descriptive poems that are full of imagery and sound. Reading descriptive poems, we can easily identify what image the poet is trying to create and what emotions he wants to convey.
4. Stanzas
Stanzas are similar to paragraphs and these are a group of lines written together and separated by another group of lines with proper spacing. Poems have various unique forms of stanzas that are highly significant in understanding the form of a poem. For instance, couplet- two lines, tercet- three lines, quatrain- four lines, cinquain- five lines, sestet- six lines, septet- seven lines, and octave- eight lines. A related concept called verse is a single metrical line verses are a group of metrical lines that together form a poem.
5. Elements of Poetry Writing
Poems have certain elements that make them a unique form of writing and appealing to those who read or listen to them. Hence, while writing poetry, it is important to consider certain elements of poetry, such as
- Rhyme and Rhyme Schemes:
Rhymes are the repetitive or similar-sounding words found in the poems. Rhymes are used in the poems to make an impact and arouse emotions in the readers. There are plenty of rhyme schemes that are used in poems, such as end rhyme, internal rhyme, imperfect rhyme, alternate rhyme, etc.
- Figurative language
Figurative language also known as poetic devices is used to enhance the intensity and mood of the poem and help readers better connect to the emotions of the poem. Different poetic devices include- metaphors, similes, symbolism, irony, alliteration, assonance, juxtaposition, repetition, personification, hyperbole, etc.
- Tone and Mood
Broadly, the tone and mood of the poem are the language, form, or sound used by the poet to convey the message and emotions of the poem to the readers. The way the poem is written and emphasizes key ideas and the poet’s use of figurative language all set the stage for the tone and mood of the poem.
- Theme
A theme is a central idea around which the whole poetry revolves. A theme could be love, life, beauty, death, social events, historical events, bravery, courage, etc. It helps the reader identify what the poem is about and what emotions the poem is trying to evoke.
- Meter
A meter is a definitive rhythmic structure of a verse or a line of a verse. It is important to describe a rhythm in a poem with an emphasis on stresses and unstressed syllables. Different meters used in poetry are iamb (one unstressed followed by a stressed syllable), dactyl (one stressed followed by two unstressed syllables), anapest (two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable), trochee (one stressed followed by an unstressed syllable), pyrrhic (two stressed syllables), and spondee (two unstressed syllables).
- Syntax
Syntax is arranging the words in a specific order for maximum effectiveness and correct grammar. Poems have certain unique syntax formats that help bring the attention of the reader to particular important components of the poem. Following the syntax in a poem is important to influence the readers and capture their attention.
Dive into the world of poetry with these amazing poetry prompts
Take a deep dive into the realm of poetry and explore the beauty of writing the poetries. Some unique poetry writing prompts are-
I. Poetry about life hopes, and new beginnings
1. Write a poem about new beginnings and new opportunities waiting to be explored, only if dared.
2. Think of a precious memory of yours and immortalize it using rhyming poetry.
3. The journey of life and the beauty of getting old.
4. Pen down a poem in honor of the person you admire the most
5. Poem describing your favorite work of art.
6. Poem describing the first day of school
7. Craft a poem reflecting hope and optimism.
8. Write a poem about your first friend in school.
9. Pen down a poem about the memories of the birth of your younger sibling.
10. Write a poem describing your experiences of leaving home for higher education.
11. Write a poem about something or someone that inspires you.
12. A poem describing the feelings experienced by making your parents proud.
13. Imagine the person you would like to be when you grow up and craft a poem for the same.
14. You learn to do something new. Describe it using a long-form poem.
15. Pen down a poem based on the memories and fun experiences of your Grandma’s kitchen.
16. Craft prose poetry on the topic, the day of my birthday celebration.
17. Write a Haiku form of a poem on my MOTHER.
18. Write a poem on your dreams, aspirations, and goals.
19. Pen down a poem on a sudden, life-changing moment that gives you profound confidence for your future.
20. Craft a poem describing your desired future.
II. Poetry about nature and the universe
1. Craft a rhyming poetry on the beauty of changing seasons.
2. This poem is about day, night, and the transition of them from one to another.
3. A place of your dreams where you will love to live.
4. Write a metaphorical poem on the beauty of waterfalls and rivers flowing amidst mountains.
5. Pen down a poem about a bright sunny day with clouds decorating the sky and sun rays filtering through it casting a wonderful illusion on earth.
6. Poem on the beauty of the mountain peaks and the living beings residing in those peaks.
7. The rich history of Europe is accompanied by various wars and periods of peace. Pen down a poem on it.
8. Fire, winters, chill, cinnamon, chocolates, and blankets. Craft a poem using these words.
9. Pen down a poem on the beauty of a rainbow visible from your window.
10. Bees, plants, nectar, summer, moss, and honey. Pen down a poem using these words with a suitable title.
11. Write a poem describing an enchanted forest in a night of thunderstorms.
12. Craft a poem on the sun, moon, stars, planets, galaxies, and any mysteries hidden in the universe.
13. The sounds of birds on a summer morning. Describe it using a poem.
14. Write a poem describing the beauty of the autumn season.
15. Pen down a poem on the beauty of a caterpillar converting into a butterfly.
16. Write a Haiku on herbs and plants.
17. Write an ode on any topic of your choice that represents the beauty of nature.
18. Write a free verse on the beauty of the moon.
19. The wind whispers through the tree; Raindrops clinging to the petals of flowers……Complete it
20. Write a poem describing the winters.
III. Emotions and unexpected events
1. An ode narrating the success of any loved one.
2. A poem describing a never-ending cycle of love and hatred.
3. Poem about your first life achievement and how that makes you feel.
4. Pen down a poem expressing betrayal and guilt over a situation or a person.
5. Fear and courage. Two contrasting yet parallel emotions in the journey of life.
6. Pen down a poem saying goodbye to a friend who is relocating to a new location.
7. A poem describing the day you felt most foolish, probably at home or school.
8. The day you managed to surprise everyone including you.
9. Imagine you have a superpower that can change the world. Pen down a poem describing your powers.
10. Craft a poem for apologizing to a person whom you have ever hurt, like a friend, parent, or maybe a sibling.
11. Give a poetic expression to one of your biggest life learning so far.
12. Write a poem explaining the emotions you felt for the first snow of the season.
13. Write an acrostic poem where the acrostic should be GRATITUDE.
14. Create a lyrical poem on kindness and courage.
15. Think of your favorite song and rewrite its central theme in a poem form.
16. Relax yourself and assess what you are feeling right now. Write a poem on that feeling and emotions.
17. Imagine a genie granting you three wishes. Write a poem about your wishes and excitement about it.
18. Think of something that makes you truly angry and pen down a poem on the same.
19. City lights at night. Explain it using a blank verse poem.
20. Finding happiness in little acts of gratitude. Craft a poem on the same.
IV. Funny and Light poetry topics
1. Write a poem about getting lost in time due to a malfunctioned time- machine.
2. Imagine being an ant and writing a poem about Earth from an ant’s perspective.
3. Craft a poem describing the experiences of an invisible man.
4. A dialogue poem between an alien and a human, representing their first experience.
5. Pick a random number between 1 to 10. Pen down a poem with as many stanzas as the number chosen by you on the topic of any whimsical happening around you.
6. Pick a random alphabet. Write a poem where every line starts with the chosen alphabet.
7. Imagine a fruit talking to you. Write a poem on it.
8. Craft a poem on your most disliked day of the week.
9. Write a poem that can easily be passed for a song lyric.
10. Pen down a poem describing how you feel about doing your homework, especially on holidays.
11. Craft poetry describing the aroma and taste of your favorite food.
12. Imagine being a cat and craft a poem from that cat’s perspective on the luxuries of life.
13. Write a poem about waste (garbage) and how it is affecting our planet.
14. Imagine standing on another planet and viewing the whole universe. Craft a poem on the same.
15. Write a poem on your most favorite or least favorite subject in school.
16. Rewrite your favorite fiction storybook as a free-verse style poem.
17. Pen down a poem that includes numbers and other mathematical concepts.
18. Craft a limerick on any recent funny incident of yours.
19. Write a poem representing a unique version of your favorite fairy tale or superhero.
20. Pen down a poem depicting your epic failure or success in making your favorite recipe.
V. Deep poetry prompts
1. Imaging a future with vivid details and emotions
2. Poem about your favorite aroma and the emotions associated with it.
3. If you had to restart the world and make it a different world, what changes would you bring?
4. A thin line between reality and daydreaming.
5. Craft a poem about something that bewilders you every time.
6. Poem about the secrets and the mystery behind the secrets.
7. Pen down a poem on the beauty of colors without explicitly mentioning the name of the colors.
8. In the abyss of the land of dreams…… complete the poem with your imagination.
9. Choose a poem writing style of your favorite author and pen down a poem on the personal life and professional life of that author using his/her style.
10. The feeling of buying new things for yourself.
11. Write a palindrome on the beauty of life
12. Recreate the first poetry you read that made you fall in love with poetry.
13. Describe your city and your country using a poem.
14. Write a poem describing your views related to the future of our planet and ensure that the poem gives good food for thoughts
15. Describe any journey that you ever had using a poem. Make it rich in details and vivid imagery.
16. Craft a poem explaining your biggest fears and insecurities.
17. Pen down a poem describing your feelings of homesickness.
18. Close your eyes and tell the first thing that comes to your mind. Write a poem on that.
19. Nobody seems to feel the way you do about something. Craft a poem on the same.
20. Write a poem explaining the silence after a huge thunderstorm.
Why use these poetry prompts?
The above-mentioned poetry prompts are a great way to improve one’s writing style and get a hang of different poetry forms. But that’s not the only reason to use our poetry prompts. These prompts will also help in
- Improving linguistic skills, such as vocabulary, comprehension, etc.
- Gaining a deep understanding of literary figures of speech and how to use them accurately.
- Mastering writing intricacies, such as grammar, idioms, punctuation, prefixes, etc.
- Enhanced ability to express and reflect our feelings and emotions
- Creative expressions and improved creativity
- Improved cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, reasoning, analytical thinking, memory, etc.
- Fostering values and promoting cultural traditions among developing kids.
- Prompts will also help maintain a routine for poetry writing, leading to improved skills.
Concluding thoughts
Poetry prompts are a valuable tool to ignite creativity and spark inspiration in developing children. These prompts will not only help kids with emotional expression but will also improve their academic skills, leading to holistic growth. Using these prompts is super easy and can be used in many ways, such as, kids can use them independently to ace their poetry writing journey or teachers can use them as an academic resource to improve children’s writing skills. Additionally, teachers can use these prompts in many ways, such as a part of daily class activities, projects, or journal assignments. Whatever may be the case, these prompts offer several benefits that are hard to overlook.
So what are you waiting for? Pick your favorite prompt and begin your exploration of the poetic world!
I am Sehjal Goel, a psychology student, and a writer. I am currently pursuing my Masters’s from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Child psychology has always fascinated me and I have a deep interest in learning about disabilities in children and spreading awareness regarding the same. My other areas of interest are neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. Connect me on Linkedin